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D.C.-area nightlife, events and dining

The Ellipse

1600 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20002 | 202-208-1631

Neighborhood:

Downtown

Metro:

Federal Triangle (Blue and Orange lines), Smithsonian (Blue and Orange lines)

hours:

Daily

Quick Take

The Ellipse, the grassy area from the South Lawn of the White House to Constitution Avenue between 17th and 15th streets, is the scene of many events, including the Pageant of Peace and National Christmas Tree.

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Event Calendar

  • 12/3

    National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

    Tickets to the tree-lighting will be distributed via an online lottery that runs from at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4, until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6.

  • 12/13

    Chanukah on the Ellipse

    This holiday event celebrates the lighting of the national menorah with performances by the Three Cantors and the U.S. Air Force band, and hot latkes and donuts.
 

Editorial Review

Aside from being the location for numerous popular events including public concerts, the White House Easter Egg Roll, The Pageant of Peace and the National Christmas Tree, the Ellipse also marks the zero mile point from which distances in Washington are measured.

The grounds are also the home to several small monuments. These include the Settlers Memorial honoring those on whose land the Federal City was built, the Zero Milestone and the Boy Scout Memorial. Military monuments are also found here, including the First Division Monument, also referred to as "Victory," which honors men from the First Armored Division of the U.S. Army who fought and died in World War I, and the Second Division Monument, which honors the men who fought in both World Wars with the Second Division.

 
 
 
 
 

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